AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, I was,” I said as I sat back down, shaking my head. “Miles is such an asshole.”
Her lips twitched upward, but she didn’t say anything, and turned away, although as she got to the threshold, she looked back.
“Did you really get a Mercedes for twenty-five thousand dollars?”
I gave her a smile, but didn’t reply, and after a second or two, she went back to her desk.
The only person who knows my secret is Marcus Fisher. He’s the Chief Financial Officer, and I got him to handle the transaction for Livia’s car, knowing I could trust him. I appointed him not long after I took up my position here, and I know he’s loyal. He won’t tell anyone that, while the company usually leases its vehicles, on this occasion, we bought it, and that although TBA paid twenty-five thousand dollars to the Mercedes dealership, I made up the deficit from my personal account.
I don’t know what Miles made of that episode. I haven’t bothered to ask. But I’m fairly sure Doreen guessed what was going on. That was why I had to be careful around her, once Livia actually started working here. I realized she’d see right through me if I spent too much time around my new PA, and I didn’t want anyone – not even Doreen – to think I’d employed Livia because of how I feel about her, or because of how she looks. So, I kept my distance last week, while Doreen was showing her the ropes, just in case I gave myself away.
Even then, it was a struggle. Every moment I was in Livia’s presence, it took all my concentration not to focus on my need for her, which hadn’t diminished in the slightest. That first morning, when she and Doreen came into my office, I wanted her so much, it was like a physical ache, deep inside me, and it was a real effort to listen to Doreen, rather than walk around my desk and take Livia in my arms.
What Doreen had to tell me was important, though. It wasn’t as important as Livia, but it was important nonetheless. She came with the news that the dreaded merger between Palmerston’s and Banks, French and Stanley, was off. There was the potential, within that news, for a massive uplift in business for TBA, and although Livia had only been here for roughly an hour, she picked up on what was happening straight away. I was impressed by that. I was also impressed by how she helped Doreen arrange the impromptu meeting we held that afternoon. What pleased me a lot less was the way in which all the male account execs around the table responded to her. None of them had met her before, and they couldn’t take their eyes off of her. I wanted to reprimand them for leering at her like a piece of meat. I couldn’t say a word, though, because I knew I’d give myself away… maybe not to them, but to Doreen.
And possibly to Livia, too.
Oddly, that didn’t worry me. I didn’t care if she knew how I felt. In fact, I welcomed the idea that she’d realize how much she means to me, or even that I might be able to tell her one day. I can’t wait for her to know that I fall asleep thinking of her, wake up longing for her, and spend every second in between dreaming of her.
I guess that’s why I didn’t shy away from what happened at Doreen’s party. I knew I wouldn’t be able to spend any time with Livia – especially not at a social gathering, where tongues were more likely to wag – but there was a moment…
It sounds like a cliché, but our eyes met across the crowded room, and it was just perfect. Neither of us could look away. We were drawn to each other, like magnets, and we stared and stared, for what seemed like forever. I felt a connection between us then, and there was something in Livia’s eyes that told me she felt it, too. At least, I hope she did… because it was magical.
This week, since Doreen’s been gone, it’s been slightly easier. That’s to say, I haven’t had to hide my feelings. Being around Livia doesn’t get any easier in itself, but to be honest, we’ve been so busy, neither of us has had time to think straight, let alone anything else. We certainly haven’t found the time to mention that ‘moment’ at Doreen’s leaving party, but I keep hoping that means we don’t need to.
Like I say, she’s fitting in here perfectly as far as her work is concerned, and the situation with Palmerston’s means she’s been thrown in at the deep end. I’ve had back-to-back meetings, which she’s had to attend, and as well as reports and evaluations which I’ve had to prepare, I’ve also taken over doing all the proposals, so the account execs can work on more important things… like getting in front of potential clients, and persuading them that TBA is where they want to put their business. Livia’s taken it all in her stride. She’s sensible enough to know when to ask if she’s unsure what to do, but generally, she just gets on with things, which is a godsend.
I wish we hadn’t been so busy… that it hadn’t all been about work, and that I’d been able to find the time to talk to her. I’m dying to know more about her. Specifically, I want to know if she’s seeing anyone.
Naturally, that’s because I want to start seeing her myself.
But I feel an even greater need to find out after I saw her in the car park one morning last week. I think it was her second day here, and I was surprised to find her Mercedes already parked up in bay twelve. My first thought was that she’d probably come in a little early to make a good impression – not that she needed to – but then I realized she was on the phone, and there was something about her face, about the smile on her lips and the way her eyes lit up, that made me wonder if she might be talking to her boyfriend. The thought made my chest ache, and I considered waiting for her and riding up in the elevator together, so I could try to find out. I changed my mind in the end, discretion proving to be the better part of curiosity, and since then, she’s made no mention of anyone special. She hasn’t taken any private calls that I’m aware of, and has worked late on two evenings, without feeling the need to mention it to anyone… so I’m starting to wonder.
And hope.
The clock ticks around to lunchtime, and although I’ve still got three emails to send, one of which is going to be relatively long and detailed, I can’t stop thinking about Livia.
Would it hurt to go out and talk to her? I’ve got the perfect excuse, after all. I can ask how she’s been getting on since Doreen’s departure. It’s the end of her first week and now seems like an excellent opportunity to see if she needs help with anything. I know that’s still making the conversation about work, but hopefully I’ll be able to turn it around.
All I’ve got to do is take the chance…
I get up, swallowing down the unexpected nerves that rise from my stomach, and I take a deep breath before walking over to my door. It’s open, as always, and I go straight out, my blood boiling in an instant, when I see Miles Hampton, perched on the edge of Livia’s desk.
He’s leaning over her, and although she’s pulled her chair back, edging it away from him, he’s not getting the hint.
“Are you here to see me, Miles?”
He jumps up and turns to face me. “Um… I was, but I can’t remember what about now.”
He expects me to believe him? “In that case, maybe you should leave and come back when you’ve remembered,” I say, glaring at him. “I’m sure you’ve got work to do. And so has Livia.”
His eyes darken, and I can tell he’d love to bite at my comment. He’s wise enough not to, and just says, “Okay… I’m going,” instead.
I wait, watching him until he disappears around the corner, heading back to his office, and then I turn to Livia, who’s blushing to the roots of her light blonde hair.
“Sorry,” she says, speaking before I get the chance, although her voice is a low whisper.
“What for?” I make my way over to her desk, standing at the end of it.
